When the old original Nacogdoches District was split into new counties,
Henderson County
voters designated the lost town of Buffalo
as the county seat. The Texas legislature reduced the size of the
county in 1848 and ordered that a new center be found. Landowner James
H. Starr donated 100 acres to be the new county seat - to called Centerville,
and in September of 1848, Centerville was platted into lots and sold.
A post office was granted in early 1849 but was discontinued within
six months. In May county business had returned to Buffalo,
but in October of 1850, the county was reduced in size and the current
county seat of Athens
was designated.